PRIMARY MUCINOUS CARCINOMA

Abstract

Mucinous carcinoma of the skin, also called mucinous adenocystic carcinoma or colloid carcinoma, is a rare malignancy. It was first described by Lennox et al. in 1952. It is derived from the sweat glands or their germinal structures but it’s appocrine or eccrine origin is still controversial. Histologically it can be confused with a metastatic lesion from the more common colloid carcinoma of the breast and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the intestine, lung, ovary or prostate.

A 60-year-old woman presented to our department with a a 2-year history of a erythematous-blue nodule of the scalp, measuring 2 cm in diameter, and initially interpreted as a nodular basal cell carcinoma. After skin biopsy it was esta- blished the diagnosis of primary mucinous carcinoma or mucinous metastatic lesion. The entire lesion was then excised. Physical examination and careful systemic workup were negative. The diagnosis of a (primary) skin mucinous carcinoma was confirmed.